George Russell has confirmed that he will not take a power-unit grid penalty at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Mercedes planning to wait until its updated ADUO engine is ready before introducing the components that will trigger a demotion. The Briton also believes Kimi Antonelli’s natural driving style is particularly well suited to Formula 1’s 2026 generation of cars.
Speaking ahead of the Baku weekend, Russell addressed his increasingly difficult championship position, Mercedes’ engine strategy and the reasons behind his team-mate’s remarkable form. With Antonelli now holding a commanding advantage in the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ standings, Russell says his immediate priority is improving his overall performance rather than focusing on the title mathematics.
George Russell rules out Baku grid penalty
There had been expectations that Russell could take a grid drop in Azerbaijan by introducing additional power-unit components. Mercedes has instead decided to extend the use of his existing pool while waiting for its forthcoming ADUO specification.
“The engine with the ADUO is almost ready, so we’ll wait until it’s ready before taking the penalty. I won’t be dropping down the grid here.”
The decision gives Russell the opportunity to approach Baku without the certainty of starting from the back, an important consideration on a weekend when the Mercedes driver is trying to rebuild momentum after another difficult race relative to Antonelli in Madrid.
Russell refuses to focus on huge F1 title deficit
Russell also acknowledged that the championship gap has become extremely difficult to overturn, although he is not mathematically out of contention.
“The gap is huge, so I’m not thinking about it. As long as the mathematics keep me in the fight, I’ll still be in contention, but the objective for now is to improve my overall performance looking towards next year.”
The Mercedes driver had already conceded after Madrid that his title prospects were becoming increasingly remote as Antonelli opened an 81-point advantage. Russell’s championship situation became particularly difficult after Antonelli’s eighth victory of the season, leaving the Briton needing a major turnaround over the remaining rounds.
Russell reacts to shorter Formula 1 races in 2027
Another subject raised ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was Formula 1’s plan to reduce Grand Prix distances in 2027. Russell joked that the effect will be particularly noticeable at two very different venues on the calendar.
“We’ll get home a little earlier. At Singapore we’ll be happy because the race never ends, while Monza will be even shorter.”
Why Russell believes Antonelli is perfectly suited to 2026 F1 cars
Russell also offered his assessment of why Kimi Antonelli has adapted so effectively to the latest generation of Formula 1 machinery.
The Briton believes the Italian’s natural technique works particularly well with cars that produce less downforce, pointing to evidence that was already visible before the current season.
“I think his natural driving style is perfect for these cars. He is comfortable with having little downforce, and in fact even a year ago he was always strong at circuits characterised by low-downforce set-ups.”
Russell nevertheless stressed that Antonelli’s success cannot simply be explained by the characteristics of the Mercedes W17 or the current regulations.
“In general, though, he has fantastic talent because he has won in every category he has competed in.”
Antonelli’s adaptation has helped make him the benchmark of the 2026 season, while Russell has repeatedly acknowledged that his own natural style has not matched the characteristics of the current cars as effectively. In Baku, however, Russell will at least have the opportunity to fight from his normal qualifying position, with Mercedes choosing to postpone his engine penalty until the updated power unit is ready.
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